Research Papers

This paper will look into the use of webinars as a teaching tool in the field of European Studies. Webinars are synchronous online interaction tools that can be used both self-standing, for online seminars and conferences, and as a part of a “blended learning” approach, together with the use of asynchronous online learning platforms and traditional classroom teaching. The online interaction can take place at various levels and fulfils specific pedagogical goals, making it a versatile teaching and learning tool. Moreover, it makes it possible to enlarge the audience the courses are addressed to, rendering interaction independent of location and flexible in terms of timing. However, the use of webinars, even more than that of e-­learning platforms, requires specific skills from the side of the educators, skills that are not necessary in the traditional educational process. The absence of physical contact with the audience, the need for more clarity in the written and verbal discourse, all require a special effort and a high level of openness towards the benefits of using technology in education. The paper will analyse the impact the use of webinars has on both educators and students, in terms of achieving their teaching and learning goals, taking as a case study the webinar series on current European Union affairs of the Institute of European Studies in Brussels. Moreover, the aim is to discuss how this innovative teaching tool can be best fit in the politics and international relations curriculum and what is the added value it brings by complementing and, in part, replacing traditional methods. There is currently a gap in researching the use of technology enhanced learning in social sciences and this paper aims to contribute to filling this gap by evaluating the pedagogical experience of teaching European Studies, a complex and interdisciplinary field, through webinars.